ENCYCLOPEDIA

Words of Type brings together the terms used in typography, illustrated and explained in multiple languages.

TODAY

This is the first version of the encyclopedia. It includes 200 terms covering multiple categories, such as type design anatomy, digital and analog typography, historical, technological and conceptual terms, as well as terms specific to certain scripts.

At each update, the list of words will grow, as well as the languages. And we aim to continuously improve its content with contributions from various experts.

STORY

Words of Type has been initiated by Lisa Huang, a French and Chinese typeface designer.

During her studies in typography and typeface design, she endlessly looked for clear and accurate explanations of the terms used in multiple typography resources (mostly in English, and about Latin script typography). She also realized that there is a great disparity in the amount and quality of ressources about typography about scripts other than Latin.

Lisa started to write down as many translations as she could find for her own learning (and sanity).

While collecting words, she noticed the following:

• a few books are translated (“best sellers” only);
• those that are translated, they are in a few languages;
• some are even translated with mistakes or misconceptions;
• some articles have information that are not always verified;
• online translation tools rarely grasp the subtleties of typography vocabulary.

Like many new projects, the idea of Words of Type grew out of a frustration resulting from something that was missing: a way to truly connect different cultures—here in the typography world.

Words of Type is a project which, despite being greatly ambitious, made it through thanks to an enormous support from an international typography community.

Hopefully, this project will become the useful tool it was dreamed of, but also, it will be display the love of the community for typography, its diversity, the great talents, all at an international scale.

PURPOSE(S)

Words of Type Encyclopedia aims to be a useful and accessible tool for everyone interested in typography and type design, at all times and from everywhere.

It will grow and improve over time, evolving like a living organism, as it is based on languages.

The project aims to be a companion to the many great resources that already exist as books and other media, educational programs, classes and workshops everywhere. It will help people to study, teach, use, and work with typography on a daily basis or even occasionally, with the Latin alphabet and beyond!

By crossing typographic knowledge about multiple writing systems, we also hope that Words of Type will nurture a development in the industry that will become even more rich and diverse.

BIGGER PICTURE

The encyclopedia is part of a larger project gathering more initiatives under the same name: Words of Type.

It is a platform where learning and discovering knowledge about typography are made more accessible, with lectures, workshops, conversations, articles, and interviews.

Words of Type has also created its own community, where members are invited to meet and discuss with each other about the encyclopedia and more, in addition to a priority access to the events.

The community is a space that aims to connect people from the typography universe at all times, alongside international and local typography events.

All of this in exchange of a yearly subscription to help us develop the encyclopedia and the project at large!

See our Manifesto